Nashville, TN – The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim continued their offseason bullpen makeover on Wednesday, with the team agreeing to terms with left-handed specialist Sean Burnett on a two-year contract.
According to MLB.com, the deal also includes a club option for the 2015 season.
Burnett is coming off a strong season with the Washington Nationals in which the 30-year-old put together a 2.38 earned run average and struck out 57 batters in 56 2/3 innings over 70 appearances. Left-handed batters hit just .211 off the veteran southpaw, who was a key part of Washington's surge to the 2012 National League East title.
Over his last three seasons, Burnett has posted a 2.76 ERA and averaged 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings while pitching in at least 69 games each year.
A former first-round pick of Pittsburgh, Burnett owns a 15-23 record with a 3.58 ERA over 354 career games, all but 13 of which have come in relief, with the Pirates and Nationals.
Burnett will team with holdover Scott Downs as the primary lefties of an Anaheim relief corps that recently signed ex-Cincinnati Red Ryan Madson to serve as the new closer. The team also traded onetime closer Jordan Walden to Atlanta last week in exchange for starting pitcher Tommy Hanson.
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